Director - Private Equity Client Executive

EY; Greater London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

EY is seeking a Director – Private Equity Client Executive in London to lead client engagement and drive growth across private equity accounts. You will partner with GCSP and account teams to deliver exceptional service, navigate complex deals, and build deep client relationships.

The role emphasizes external focus (approximately 80%), strategic account planning, and cross-functional collaboration across the firm to win new business and expand market share.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in business development within professional services or solutions.
• Proven private equity experience is essential.
• Experience selling complex services at C-level to clients.

Responsibilities

• Identify, originate and close new business opportunities with private equity clients.
• Lead account planning and strategy development with internal teams.
• Maintain executive relationships with GCSP and client leaders.
• Travel as needed to engage with clients and teams.

Skills

12+ years BD experience

Private equity experience

C-level selling

Client-facing BD roles

Global accounts

Client management & influencing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Director - Private Equity Client Executive

Location: London

Other locations: Primary Location Only

Date: 12 Oct 2026

Requisition ID: 1751456

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Job Description: Director – Private Equity Client Executive

Job Summary:

The Client Executive (CE) is a key driver in expanding our Private Equity Industry Group, working with deal teams, portfolio operating partners, and management teams. Working closely with the Global Client Service Partner (GCSP) and account teams, the CE leads client engagement, drives strategic growth, and fosters cross-functional collaboration to deliver exceptional client service and business growth.

The Client Executive is responsible for delivering exceptional client service to our clients by understanding client issues and challenges, leveraging the firm’s capabilities to address these and driving new business opportunities to grow revenue and to deepen our client relationships.

This role demands a high level of client-facing activity, strategic insight, and leadership capability, with approximately 80% of time spent externally focused.

Expected percentage of time spent per BD activity: Strategy 10%/ Management 10%/ Client facing 80%.

Key Responsibilities

Revenue generation, identifying and developing new business

• Identify, originate and close new business opportunities, deepening client penetration and expanding market share.
• Develop a deep understanding of client needs, fund strategies, deal cycles, and value creation levers.
• Lead rigorous account planning and strategy development, collaborating with account teams to implement growth initiatives.
• Monitor progress on key initiatives, report outcomes, and drive continuous improvement by sharing learnings and best practices.

Client Relationship Leadership

• Initiate, build and sustain exceptional client relationships with C-Suite and functional leaders within client organisations.
• Trusted advisor to the GCSP and senior leadership, with influence over account strategy
• Serve as a proxy for the GCSP in client interactions, demonstrating executive presence and credibility at all levels.
• Spend the majority of your time engaging directly with clients, advocating for their needs, and proactively resolving issues.
• Build extensive networks across the firm and with client stakeholders, leveraging these relationships to deliver exceptional client experiences.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build strong rapport with GCSP and foster cross-functional and cross-border collaboration, coordinating tailored proposals with key internal stakeholders.
• Act as a liaison between the GCSP and internal teams, ensuring alignment and seamless client delivery.
• Champion a culture of teamwork, knowledge sharing, and innovation across the account and the wider firm.
• Team closely with the Clients & Industries organisation, including Solutions & Services and Sales Enablement
• Act as a sounding board for the GCSP and mentor senior managers and managers, supporting their professional development.
• Prepare for and lead meetings with senior client relationships, maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and integrity.
• Inspire and coach account teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.
• Ability to work with diverse teams, and foster inclusive leadership

Personal & Career Development

• Take ownership of your personal development, seeking opportunities for growth within the firm.
• Support the development of others, acting as a mentor and role model.

Core Skills & Experience Requirements

The CE needs to be a driven individuals and possess the hard and soft skills necessary to drive transformational performance across our portfolio of accounts and solutions.

• 12+ years of business development experience in professional services or solutions.
• Demonstrated experience in private equity is essential.
• Proven record of selling complex services at the C-level.
• Proven experience in client-facing business development roles, building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders.
• Experience managing complex global accounts, collaborating across geographies and functions, and working within an international team.
• Expert client management and influencing skills, with a solid understanding of the marketplace and industry trends.

Leadership & Influence

• Strong change agent skills with the ability to flex personal style as required.
• Strong executive presence and persuasive communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Strong coaching skills and ability to handle and resolve conflict.

Qualifications & Knowledge

• University/Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong knowledge of current and emerging sales tools, methodologies, and go-to-market models.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

Personal Characteristics

• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic, and ambiguous environment.
• Resilient, embraces change, and recovers quickly from setbacks.
• Proactive, anticipates needs, and takes initiative.
• Maintains confidentiality and integrity at all times.
• Organised, able to manage multiple workstreams with competing priorities and adapt quickly as circumstances change.
• Collaborative, leaves ego at the door, and champions the success of the wider team.
• Flexibility to travel and adjust working hours to meet client needs
• Values diversity and inclusion

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